Ireland: The US President Joe Biden has landed in Northern Ireland ahead of a four-day visit to the island to reassert his support for peace in the country and to celebrate his Irish roots.

The US president was met at Belfast International Airport by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in a visit expected to mix delicate political choreography with economic announcements and events linked to Mr. Biden’s Irish and Catholic heritage.

Mr. Biden noted that he wanted to safeguard the Good Friday agreement, which was signed 25 years ago, and support Mr. Sunak’s post-Brexit deal for the region.

The President added that he will “make sure the Irish accords and Windsor agreements stay in place. Keep the peace, and that’s the main thing. It looks like we’re going to keep our fingers crossed.” The two leaders met briefly before the US leader drove away in an armoured car.

Mr. Biden will again meet the UK PM soon and then make a speech at Ulster University in Belfast before heading south across the border for three days of pomp and pilgrimage in Ireland.

According to the statement from the White House, there will not be a formal group meeting between the US president and Northern Ireland’s five main political parties.

On April 13, Mr. Biden will hold separate meetings with the Irish President Mr. Michael D. Higgins, and the Taoiseach Mr. Leo Varadkar before making a speech to a joint sitting of parliament, following in the footsteps of John F. Kennedy in 1963, Ronald Reagan in 1984, and Bill Clinton in 1995. There will be a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle.

On April 14, the US leader will fly to County Mayo and tour the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock, a Catholic shrine, where he is expected to pray. Mr. Biden will further visit the North Mayo Heritage Centre’s family history research unit and meet relatives from another side of his family before making a speech that evening outside St. Muredach’s Cathedral in Ballina.

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